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To explain the features of the scattering and propagation of light in liquid water, a hypothesis of the spatial adjustment of global optical inhomogeneities of water has been proposed. An analytical expression for the intensity of light singly scattered on randomly distributed clusters filling the entire water bulk has been obtained in the Rayleigh-Gans approximation. It has been shown that theoretical estimates are in good agreement with the experimental data on the volume scattering function in pure filtered water.

We performed measurements of the volume scattering function (VSF) between 0.5 degrees and 179 degrees with an angular resolution of 0.3 degrees in the northern Adriatic Sea onboard an oceanographic platform during three different seasons, using the multispectral volume scattering meter (MVSM) instrument. We observed important differences with respect to Petzold's commonly used functions, whereas the Fournier-Forand's analytical formulation provided a rather good description of the measured VSF. The comparison of the derived scattering, b(p)(lambda) and backscattering, b(bp)(lambda) coefficients for particles with the measurements performed with the classical AC-9 and Hydroscat-6 showed agreement to within 20%. The use of an empirical relationship for the derivation of b(b)(lambda) from beta(psi,lambda) at psi=140 degrees was validated for this coastal site although psi=118 degrees was confirmed to be the most appropriate angle. The low value of the factor used to convert beta(psi,lambda) into b(b)(lambda) within the Hydroscat-6 processing partially contributed to the underestimation of b(b)(lambda) with respect to the MVSM. Finally, use of the Kopelevich model together with a measurement of b(p)(lambda) at lambda=555 nm allowed us to reconstruct the VSF with average rms percent differences between 8 and 15%.

The Volume Scattering Function (VSF) is an essential variable in the context of marine radiative transfer modeling and of the inversion of ocean colour remote sensing data. However, an important lack of knowledge on the VSF natural variability affects the present models, in particular for the coastal environment. Measurements of the Volume Scattering Function between 0.6° and 177.3° with an angular resolution of 0.3° were performed in the northern coastal Adriatic Sea onboard an oceanographic platform in October 2004 using a prototype instrument. Observed differences with the commonly used Petzold's functions are significant, in particular for the "open ocean" and "coastal" types in the backward directions. The use of an empirical relationship for the derivation of bb(λ) from a unique measurement of β(ψ,λ) at ψ=140 for the Hydroscat-6 was validated for this coastal site at that season. Finally, the use of the Kopelevich VSF model together with a measurement of bp(λ) at λ=555 nm allowed the reconstruction of the VSF to within about 35%.© (2007) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

This study addresses the regression of in-water radiometric profile data with the objective of investigating solutions to minimize uncertainties of derived products like subsurface radiance and irradiance (L(u0) and E(d0)) and diffuse attenuation coefficients. Analyses are conducted using radiometric profiles generated through Monte Carlo simulations and field measurements. A nonlinear NL approach is presented as an alternative to the standard linear method LN. Results indicate that the LN method, relying on log-transformed data, tends to underestimate regression results with respect to NL operating on non-transformed data. The log-transformation is thus identified as the source of biases in data products. Observed differences between LN and NL regression results for L(u0) are of the order of 1-2%, that is well below the target uncertainty for data products from in situ measurements (i.e., 5%). For E(d0), instead, differences can easily exceed 5% as a result of more pronounced light focusing and defocusing effects due to wave perturbations. This work also remarks the importance of applying the multi-cast measurement scheme as a mean to increase the precision of data products.